The Indianapolis journal., 1887-05-30
And ConcIusively Prove Their Inability to
Grasp the Great Fundamental Principles
Upon Which Good Soldiership Is Based.
Weekly Report of the Condition of Af-
fairs in the Agricultural Districts.
An Improved Outlook in the Winter Wheat
RegiOns-RevivaI of Talk About an Extra
Session of COngress-Capital Notes.
THE NATIONAL DRILL.

The Display of Meanness and Prejudice Made
| by the Southern Companies.
| Special to the Indianapolis Journai.
| WASHINGTON. May 29-There are grea:
| many queer things about the national drill.
| which will draw to a close tomorrow evening
In the first place. there is decided lack of har-
/ mony between the Northern and the Southern
| men in camp. The companies from the North
have made no protest, whatever because the
| committee in charge OF the arrangements has
allowed coored troops to participate in the COM
| petitions and parades. The Southern compa-
MES. on the other hand, have been growing
about this since they came here.
First the Vicksburg Southrons and the
Memphis Zouaves withdrew from the parade on
Wednesday because a colored company in
the ranks To-day these same companies were
drilling the drill grounds, after the Of
the Rev. Mr.. Talmadge, and just before the hour
for the dress parade. when the Washington
Light Infantry and the National Rifles entered
the ground They followed by colored
infantry company. just the men
from the South saw the colored men they
marched from the field aud did not return dur
ing the parade. The officers in charge of the
parade were disgusted with this new exhibition
OF alleged pride, and the remarks which they
passed upon the action of the fools were any
thing but complimentary.
Even in the camp the Southern mon show the
spirit. Those officers whose companies
assigned to battalions commanded by North
ern officers express their resentment by refusing
to obey orders issued to them. The Memphis
Zouaves in a battalion commanded by Capt.
Ford. of the Chicago Zouaves. yet up to date the
captain of the Memphis men has not obeyed
single order issued to him by Captain Ford, and
when that officer wants to make detail of men
for any purpose, he is compelled to call. upon
those from the Chicago the keck Zouaves
Other battalion officers who happen to come
from the North experience the same difficulty in
securing any aid whatever from the Southern
men, with very few exceptions.
Another queer thing about this drill was the
exercises to-day. On immense cloth sign
displayed in the grounds is the legend "Sun-
day-Grand military sermon by the Rev. T.
Dewitt Talmage at +. NJ. followed by sacred
concert by the Marine Banc; dress parade at 5
p NJ" At first the committee advertised that all
this would be free, and the advertisement was
never changed. In consequences, fully 1000
people were present, but each and every one of
them was compelled to pay 2o cents for admis-
sion to the grounds, and % cents more for a
seat. The military portion of the sermon was n
fizzle. Each soldier not commissioned
officer was compelled to pay quarter for admis-
sion, and naturally there were very few
soldiers present. The affair of the sermon was
big financial card for the drill; it probably
netted not less tn an $1,000. and in that respect
was fortunate for the committee session
of a circus would have been. There was about
as much religion in it, TOO.
General Carnahan, who conducted the parade
says that tho Southern companies who left the
drill grounds were not ordered TO parade today,
and that they came under a msunderstand-
ing. When they discovered their mistake they
withdrew. On the other hand Captain Searl,
OF the Vicksburg Southrons, says that they left
because of the presence of the colored men. He
says, too. that the Lomax Rifles, the Belknap
Rifles, the San Antonio Rifles and the Louisville
Rifles also withdrew. This may be true, but no
no one noticed the withdrawal of the other COM
panies.
The indianapolis Light Infantry will leave
here for home at $40 tomorrow night They
still believe that if the basis of Judgment is
upon tactics rather than upon execution, they
stand good chance of carrying prize home
with them. They all we'll and happy, and
declare that they have had glorious time Mr..
r. j. Bright Congressman Bynum. and, in fact
all the Indiana people in town, have We'd with
each other in trying to make things pleasant for
them. Mr.. Bright has been especially kind. and
has kept them supplied with fresh meats and
vegetables during the whole week, an important
feature of camp life. The artillery will also
probably leave to morrow night, although some
of the members of the battery want to stay over
until Tuesday morning. sure are they of get
ting first prize in their class, as they will want
to ''whoop things up some" as one of the boys
expressed it.